The steam locomotive chugs its way out of Felton's Roaring Camp Railroad station on time and on schedule every weekend during the summer months as it makes its normal 25-minute run through the tall trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains.

But things will be anything but normal on the Roaring Camp tracks over the July 25-27 and Aug. 1-3 weekends when Thomas the Tank Engine takes over to pull the train through the redwoods. Because Thomas won't just be chugging and tooting, he'll be talking, too!

"For the first time ever at a 'Day Out With Thomas,' Thomas the Tank Engine will be able to talk to his fans," says the popular engine's PR staff. "Boys and girls will be cheerfully greeted by the No. 1 Engine when he pulls into Roaring Camp."

Thomas will be rolling from 8 a.m. through 6:30 p.m. each day during his two-weekend visit to Roaring Camp, 5401 Graham Hill Road in Felton. Tickets are priced at $20 per person ($24 for premium departure times) for ages 2 and up.

Each day will feature a number of Thomas-themed activities, including storytellers, jugglers, magicians and live music. There will be face painting, train tables, coloring sheets and more for the children, who will also get to meet Sir Topham Hatt and, of course.

The star of the day, though, is Thomas the Tank Engine, featured in the Thomas & Friends series. The bright blue engine with the smiling face will make Roaring Camp one of his 42 stops in this, his 19th annual U.S. tour. And he's hoping that local youngsters will be among the nearly 1 million passengers who will join him on the rails in 2014.